Monday, June 19, 2017

Official Variations of the Nintendo 8-bit NES/Famicom Console Hardware

Nintendo tried to get its 8-bit system into homes across the world. It was most successful in Japan, the United States and Canada. But it also distributed its hardware in many other countries, usually with the assistance of a local distributor. Some of these systems are rather rare, but have been documented to exist. In this blog post let I will attempt to identify every officially licensed variation of the 8-bit hardware Nintendo ever released.

For each distinct device, I will give its official name followed by its product code, if known. Text in brackets means that the information is unofficial or in the case of the front loading NES units, not on the console itself. For the rarer systems, I will try to give links to more information and photographs.

A. 60-Pin
Systems

1. Family
Computer HVC-001

TV System : NTSC

The original 8-bit
Nintendo console, comes in three variations :

Square Button
Controller

Round Button
Controller

Round Button
Controller VCI/GMP

The original
square button controllers represent the earliest revisions of the
system that was ever released to the public. These systems have
smooth and shiny red bottom shells. They also tend to have somewhat
incomplete and fragile CPUs and PPUs. The square button systems are
especially rare because most of them were recalled at the end of 1983
to fix a hardware issue.

The round button
systems almost always have a matte finish on the bottom of the case.
Their the controller buttons are much more durable.

The later round
button controller systems with the VCI/GMP logos have more internal RF
shielding and slightly improved video quality. They can be
distinguished by the VCI and GMP logos on the bottom of the system.

This system is very
similar to the Japanese Famicom. It has English language labels and
slightly different coloring on Family Computer strip. It uses NTSC
chips, but the clock crystal is slightly slower (21.3125MHz) versus
the canonical NTSC clock crystal (21.47727MHz). It has a “Fast/Slow”
switch on the back to change from 60Hz to 50Hz operation. This works
by a custom chip that freezes the PPU periodically to reduce the
effective frame rate. Don’t expect it to play all PAL exclusive
games. The RF modulator outputs PAL color and frequencies suitable
for Hong Kong TVs. It does not appear to have a channel select switch.

Nintendo’s
redesign of the Famicom was based off the NES Top Loader. It
supports detachable standard controllers and adds composite video.
It loses the RF modulator (sold separately) and cannot use the
microphone function on Controller II. This is the only 8-bit
Nintendo console to use the Nintendo Multi-Out connector. It comes
with two dogbone-style controllers with short cables.I talked about the AV Famicom in some detail here : http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2014/10/famicom-av-issues-and-solutions.html

5. Sharp
C1 Famicom TV 14C-C1F・W/R,
19C-C1F・W/R

TV System : RGB

This was Sharp’s
first offically licensed Famicom, released in 1983. This system
contains a 14” or 19” TV and a Famicom, and comes in red and
black bezels. The system uses detachable controllers with a mini-DIN
plug. The PPU is a 2C03 RGB PPU, giving higher quality output but
the 2C03 has somewhat different colors and lacks color emphasis
support, leading to minor issues in some games and at least one
licensed Famicom game incompatibility (Just Breed will not work and
informs the player on its box). Due to the front loading nature of
the cartridge slot, peripherals like the Famicom Disk System cannot
be used.

It does have a
Famicom Expansion Port. Original controllers are very rare. The second controller does support a microphone, making it the C-1 Famicom TV the only system to support the microphone via a detachable controller. It has
a built-in graphics program and a note program and came with a Donkey Kong
Jr/Donkey Kong Jr. Math multi-cart. There is a special keyboard
peripheral for the TV, presumably for the note program.Images of the controllers and bundled cart can be found here :http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=10&threadid=135077

6. Sharp
Twin Famicom AN-500R/B & AN-505R/B

TV System : NTSC

This is Sharp’s
combination of a Famicom and a Famicom Disk System and released in
1986. The mainboard contains both the Famicom hardware and the Disk System RAM Adapter's hardware. The disk drive's mechanics and electronics occupy the left half of the case. There is a button to switch between disk and cartridges. It has an eject button, start and reset buttons. On the right side is the Expansion Port and the RAM Adapter's unused expansion port. On the rear there is a cover protecting a pair of ports. One of the ports can be used to connect an external disk drive to the built-in RAM Adapter. This allows you to use an FDSStick. It has AV output and a DIN connector for an RF switchbox.
They come in either black plastic or red plastic. The later Twin
Famicoms (AN-505) come with turbo controllers. They show a similar
bootup screen to the Famicom Disk System. The later Twins have the words "Twin Famicom" embossed horizontally straight across the front of the system while the earlier Twins have the word "Famicom" embossed in a semi-circular pattern. This is the best page I have seen that showcases all four of the Twin Famicoms :https://retro-video-gaming.com/2015/03/07/sharps-twin-famicom-and-the-twin-famicom-turbo/

7. Sharp
Famicom Titler AN-510

TV System :
NTSC-derived from RGB

This device was
released in 1989 and is a combination of a Famicom and a simple video
mixer. It has RF output connector DIN, composite AV inputs and
outputs and an S-Video input and output. It uses a 2C05-99 PPU,
which like the 2C03 has RGB-based output. It also has a tablet area
on the console for drawing on the screen. Extremely rare and
expensive. While it doesn’t natively provide RGB output, it can be
modded to do so : http://www.chrismcovell.com/gotRGB/fctitler.htmlThe diagram here can give you a better idea of how the device was supposed to be used :http://kotaku.com/the-nintendo-console-from-the-80s-that-could-record-gam-1739086864Information about the device's capabilities can be found here :

The standard NES.
There are far more of these NESes in the world than any other NES.
Released in the U.S. and (initially by Mattel) in Canada.

2. Nintendo
Entertainment System European Version NESE-001

TV System : PAL

Lockout Chip : 3195A
(PAL-B)

This system was
distributed in the Netherlands, Belgium, (West) Germany, Austria,
Switzerland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. The
consoles and cartridges intended for the German-speaking countries
may instead have “Europa Version” on the box, but the console
itself will have “European Version” on its cartridge lid.

For some reason,
Spain got a NES styled in this manner, but this console works
identically to the European Version.

4. Nintendo
Entertainment System[French Version] NESE-001 (FRA)

TV System : PAL RGB

Lockout Chip : 3195A
(PAL-B)

This console does
not have an RF modulator or RCA jacks. Instead it has a proprietary
connector that connects to a cable which outputs “RGB” and audio.
This RGB has been converted from the PAL video signal output by the
2C07 PPU to be SECAM friendly. The cable ends in a SCART connector.
Because of the PAL to RGB conversion it is not a high quality RGB
solution.

Mattel obtained
distribution rights to sell the NES in the U.K., Australia, New
Zealand and Italy. These consoles seem identical except for the
stickers for each region. However, they are unlikely to use the same
RF frequencies, so their compatibility stops at the RF modulator.
Also, their AC adapters use different connectors, Type G for the
U.K., Type I for Australia and New Zealand and Type C for Italy.

6. Nintendo
Entertainment System NES Version NESE-001 (GBR)

TV System : PAL

Lockout Chip : 3197A
(PAL-A)

This console was
released after Mattel’s rights to distribute the NES in the U.K.
had lapsed.

As with India, in
South Korea Japanese electronics had to be released by a local
company, in this case Hyundai Electronics. This console has black
lettering instead of red on its cover and Hangul characters. It
functions like a regular NTSC NES except for its PAL-B lockout chip.More information about this system and Korean releases can be found here : http://www.autofish.net/hosted/famitek/comboy.html

13. Nintendo
Entertainment System [Brazilian Version] NES-001 (BRA)

TV System : PAL-M

Lockout Chip :
6113B1

Released rather late
in the NES’s lifespan by Playtronic, this console must output a
PAL-M signal. The PCB must have color conversion circuitry because
the 2C02 PPU outputs NTSC color and the 2C07 outputs 50Hz timings.
PAL-M is 60Hz and 525 lines, so the 2C02 would be the best chip to
use by far.
Some information can be found here :http://s4.zetaboards.com/PGC_Forums/topic/10280137/1/

14. Nintendo
Entertainment System NES-101

TV System : NTSC

The top loader
removed the AV outputs, the lockout chip and the unused NES Expansion
Port. A very rare late revision uses a Multi-Out connector like the
AV Famicom for composite video output. This system introduced the
NES Dogbone controller.

15. Nintendo
Entertainment System NES-101 (AUS)

TV System : PAL

The PAL top loader
was only released in Australia and New Zealand.

16. Sharp
Nintendo Television 19SC111, 19SV111

TV System : NTSC

Released in : U.S.,
Canada

Unlike the Japanese
Sharp TV, this only comes in black and uses a 2C02 PPU. It works
just like a front loader and supports all NES controllers. It came
with black plastic controllers. The unit has four feet and they
often break. These may have only come with 19” screens.

C. 72-Pin
Specialized Systems

1. M8 Game Selectable Working Product DisplayThis was the first console Nintendo made that allowed customers to try games in stores before they bought them. These consoles have a pair of controllers that sit in a pair of cradles and a button to select the game. Unlike the M82, this device does not use cartridges. It can support up to sixteen sets of ROMs and has little slots on the front of the unit for the name of each game. An LED next to the name tells the player the name of the active game. Games that are known to have been previewed with this system are :10-Yard FightBalloon FightBaseballClu Clu LandDonkey Kong Jr. MathDuck HuntExcitebikeGolfHogan's AlleyIce ClimberKung FuMach RiderPopeyePinballSoccerStack-UpSuper Mario Bros.TennisWild GunmanWrecking CrewThe faceplates on the front of the display were made as one unit, so retailers could not freely pick and choose which games they wanted to display. There were three versions made, each with its own set of games. Most of the games can be found in more than one version, but the first set only has Mach Rider and Popeye, the second set only has DKjr. Math and the third set only has Stack-Up and does not have the ROM for the attract screen logo. Inside the unit is a NES mainboard connected to a large PCB. This PCB has thirty-two ROM sockets. Sixteen of these sockets are dedicated to the PRG-ROM of each game, the other sixteen are dedicated to the CHR-ROM of each game. The game ROMs come on EPROMs. As a consequence, this system supports only mapperless NROM games. There is a dial on the back of the unit to set the playing time (25 seconds, 3 minutes, 6 minutes, 25 mintues). The system has RF and AV outputs and its own built-in power supply. It also has four pairs of four dipswitches to set the mirroring for each game (horizontal or vertical). More information and links to more information and pictures can be found here :http://nintendoage.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=5&threadid=8153

2. M82 Game
Selectable Working Product Display

TV System : NTSC

Lockout Chip : 3193,
3193A, 6113, 6113A, 6113B1

This system was used
to preview NES games in stores, and a potential customer could pick
one of twelve cartridges plugged into the unit to try for a short
period of time. These cartridges were identical to the officially
released cartridges. It has RF and AV outputs and has the power
supply built-in. There was a timer function switch which would reset
a game after a certain length of time (30 seconds, 3 minutes, 60
minutes, 128 minutes). It has five NES controller ports located
inside the unit and can support light guns. It has a menu attract
screen which is separate from the games. A red button selects the
game with an LCD display to tell you which game has been selected.

The M82 is not the
most compatible device, it does not work properly with many
officially licensed NES games that assert the IRQ line (MMC3, MMC5,
FME-7).I remember these units at the World of Nintendo kiosk at my local mall in the early 90s. The controller cradle on the front of the unit was very distinctive, as was the clear window that displayed the game labels. (except when the didn't as with early Jaleco titles)Game-Tech.us did a multi-part series, partially with Kevtris, exploring this device in enormous detail. Here is the Youtube video playlist of that epic series :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meFh58xBTGU&list=PL0jJKUt9b_UqAxr-0XyUzMP1Grl3qdkt4

This is essentially
a combination of the M82 Demo Unit and a “PlayChoice-15”. It
uses special 72-pin black cartridges and can fit up to fifteen of
them. These cartridges will work in an NES top loader or
lockout-chip disabled front loader. They use a 3198 lockout chip,
which is unique to these cartridges. If one cartridge is inserted without the correct lockout chip, none of the games will work. Pro Wrestling had a unique
cartridge release for the FamicomBox, it was otherwise released in
Japan only for the Disk System.

The FamicomBox was
activated by coins and would play for a certain amount of time before
resetting the system. You could insert another coin to continue
playing or try a new game. Selecting games was done by a software
menu, which would give the game’s title in English. The system has
a 3199 lockout chip to run the coin box timers. It has RF and AV
output and a Famicom Expansion Port.

Like the Twin
Famicom, Sharp’s FamicomStation functions identically to the
FamicomBox but has different menu graphics.

6. NES Test
Station

TV System : NTSC

Lockout Chip : 3193,
3193A, 6113, 6113A, 6113B1

These were sent to
Nintendo Service Centers to test NES systems, peripherals and games.
It can test the AC Adapter, cartridges, the AV cables, the RF switch,
controllers (standard gamepad, R.O.B., Zapper and Power Pad) and the
control deck’s video and audio output.

The external slot is
a 72-pin slot that does not use the push down mechanism of the
regular front loader. Inside the case is a 60-pin slot with an NTF2
System Test Cartridge.

The VS. System
arcade cabinets came as two monitors driven by one board. There were
sockets on the board to support either two separate games or one VS
DualSystem game. Later Nintendo released an upright cabinet with
only one monitor. The lack of a second monitor meant that this
cabinet could not support DualSystem games. Games for the VS System
came on EPROMs and typically came with special PPU chips or other
copy protection measures. The games would typically be more
challenging than their regular cartridge versions. Light gun games
were available on this system. The system had its own bankswitching,
but games could implement custom bankswitching schemes via
daughterboards.
I have discussed the VS. System at length here : http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2015/07/nintendos-vs-system-just-like-at-home.html

2. PlayChoice-10

TV System : 60Hz RGB

The PlayChoice-10
could also use two monitors, one for the game and the other to select
a game and display the instructions. A smaller tabletop version only
used one monitor and the buttons would alternate between the game
menu/instructions and the game screen. Games came on special PCBs
and had an extra ROM chip for the instructions. Up to ten games can
be inserted on the motherboard. One game, The Goonies, was only
released to the West via the PlayChoice 10. The PlayChoice-10 uses a
2C03 RGB PPU. Light gun games were available on this system.I have discussed the PlayChoice-10 at length here :http://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2015/06/nintendos-playchoice-10-arcade.html

3. 2A03 Sound
Chip Usage

Donkey Kong 3,
Punch-Out, Super Punch-Out and Arm Wrestling arcade machines all use
the revisionless 2A03 as a sound chip and sound CPU. Their graphics
capabilities exceed the 2C02 in certain ways and all but Donkey Kong 3 use two monitors. 4. Family Computer Network System Dataship 1200One of Nintendo's weirder combinations, this is a combined Famicom and the Famicom Modem from the Family Computer Network System. The Famicom portion is severely cut down, it has no regular cartridge slot and no attached controllers. It only has an Expansion Port for the special controller and a cartridge slot for the card-lke cartridges the Modem used. However, as shown here : http://offgao.blog112.fc2.com/blog-entry-36.html, there is complete or nearly complete Famicom hardware inside the machine.

1 comment:

Hi:PAL-A Consoles are in a separate region with respect to PAL-B consoles, and the lockout chip from one subregion will reject games from the other. This means that some games can have pretty wild price differences from PAL-A to PAL-B and games that were released on one bu not the other.

Also the Twin Famicom has a slider to switch between carts and disks, not a button.